Wednesday 15 April 2009
- Bible Book:
- Luke
"When he was at table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened and they recognised him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to one another 'Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking with us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?'" (v.30-32)
Background
Two disciples of Jesus were walking the seven miles to Emmaus onthe day when the empty tomb had been discovered. This latest newshad only added to their anxiety and perplexity. Imagine their senseof depression. All their hopes for a future that had been focusedon Jesus had been dashed by his execution. "We had hoped that hewas the one to redeem Israel" they said (and you can imagine theunsaid, "But we were mistaken").
The unrecognised Jesus helped them to see that what had happenedwas exactly what the prophets predicted would happen to the Messiah(eg Isaiah53). But the climax of the story comes when Jesus broke breadat supper. Did the action recall the way in which Jesus had brokenbread with his disciples on the night in which he was betrayed? Wasit an intimate moment of hospitality that revealed him to them?Whatever the reason, they had one of those blinding flashes ofunderstanding that change things completely.
It was late, so late that they had thought it unwise for the'stranger' to carry on his journey, for it was dangerous to travelat night. Yet the flash of understanding led them to retrace theirsteps to Jerusalem, without thought for their own safety, to sharetheir good news. Oblivious to the dangers, they were determined toshare their good news.
It might have been a bit of an anticlimax to discover that therisen Jesus had also appeared to Simon, but there was no rivalry orsense of privilege. The good news was to be all inclusive.
To Ponder
What moments have you experienced of your eyesbeing opened or the light dawning? Have they been significantmoments of faith?
Hebrews 13:2 says, "Do not neglect to showhospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertainedangels without knowing it." Have you had this experience or do youknow anyone who has? What effect did it have?